The Pennsylvania Department of Health has officially approved the application for Tenor Health Foundation to acquire three hospitals in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, marking a critical milestone for healthcare stability in the region. The state’s "blessing," confirmed on Wednesday, January 28, clears the way for the nonprofit to assume control of Moses Taylor Hospital and Regional Hospital of Scranton, as well as Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. These facilities were previously owned by the financially struggling Commonwealth Health Systems, which had at one point considered potential closures if a buyer could not be secured.
The approval follows months of uncertainty after an initial deal with a different buyer collapsed in late 2024, requiring local community foundations to provide millions in stopgap funding to keep the hospitals operational. Tenor Health, a California-based nonprofit founded by CEO Radha Savitala, signed a definitive agreement for the purchase in October and has been awaiting this final regulatory step to move forward with the transition. With the Department of Health’s review now complete, Tenor and Commonwealth Health are working to finalize the transaction as quickly as possible to ensure there is no disruption in care for thousands of patients across Northeastern Pennsylvania.